After the realization of the Cyclo-cross Global Championships, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are turning their consideration to the impending Classics season. Alternatively, they’re choosing relatively other approaches.
At the same time as early because the day after Worlds, the champion Van der Poel headed to the golfing direction with a ski shuttle additionally in his speedy plans, whilst Van Aert was once again at the motorcycle, clocking in six hours and 168km of coaching at the street.
Van der Poel, who claimed a record-equalling 7th CX international identify on Sunday, will kick off his 2025 street season previous than ultimate 12 months on March 9 or 10, with both a debut at Paris-Great or a fourth look at Tirreno-Adriatico.
His time table is not absolutely showed however the Dutchman will then race Milan-San Remo and protect his titles on the Excursion of Flanders, the place a fourth win would make him the race’s maximum a success rider, and Paris-Roubaix, which he has gained the ultimate two editions of.
Whilst he singled out Flanders as the primary function, Van der Poel could have Tadej Pogačar again to take care of in April. The arena champion was once the ultimate guy to overcome him there in 2023 and long-term rival Wout van Aert can also be again after a crash dominated him out of Flanders and Roubaix ultimate 12 months.
“I fell in love with [the Ronde] when I first participated. But this year a certain Tadej Pogacar is participating. I will have to be in top form to be able to follow him,” Van der Poel advised Sporza after ‘Go Worlds.
“A few teams have become very strong in depth. When Tadej goes, a lot of teams know that it is very difficult to follow him.
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“That can make it a laugh for the spectators as a result of that implies that the race can be unfolded from very some distance away.”
It should see the fascinating battle which played out in 2022 and 2023 revisited, with Van Aert also hoping to be back at his best so he can compete after missing the former edition due to COVID-19 and getting dropped in the latter.
Van Aert by contrast, will soon head to Mallorca for training, before starting his road season with the Clásica Jaén on February 17 and Volta ao Algarve the week after in preparation for Opening Weekend – Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.
After that, the Belgian will train at altitude in preparation for the Monuments, again choosing to skip the Italian races Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo, both of which he has already won, before returning at the E3 Saxo Classic on March 28.
His ultimate look ahead of Holy Week can be at Dwars door Vlaanderen, the race which ended his Classics season ultimate 12 months after a brutal crash. In any case his dangerous good fortune of the previous few seasons, Van Aert will then glance to in the end win the Excursion of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix in April sponsored via a stacked Visma-Rent a Motorcycle squad.
